United States › Illinois › Zion CITY
Zion Illinois · 24,447 residents (2025 est.) · 9.93 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO 1990 Census 2000 Census 2009 ACS 2010 ACS 2011 ACS 2012 ACS 2013 ACS 2014 ACS 2015 ACS 2016 ACS 2017 ACS 2018 ACS 2019 ACS 2020 ACS 2021 ACS 2022 ACS 2023 ACS
The short version
With 24,600 people, Zion is a city in Illinois. 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. The median age is 32.3, younger than the US median of 38.9. Home values have risen by half since 2000, reaching $183,800. Density works out to 2,477 people per square mile. That trails the Illinois median by roughly 24%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 32.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
15% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
More affordable
home values down 12%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 22,866 in 2000
24,447 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
2,477 / sq mi
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2,481 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 30.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
19K 21K 22K 24K 25K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Zion Age distribution, 2024
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02
Income & economy $63,104
−24%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $45,723 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $17,730 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 28.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 11.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.403 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Professional, scientific, technical 5.1%
Public administration 3.7%
Transportation & warehousing 2.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.5%
Education & health services 0.3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 0%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
$183,800
−12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $115,100 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,186
Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000
from $651 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 59.2% in 2000
42.2% rent
from 9.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.74 people
−10%since 2009
from 3.04 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 39.6% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 52.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.6 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 53%(12,120)
Hispanic / Latino 15.2%(3,487)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 24.5%(6,030)
Hispanic / Latino 43.7%(10,760)
from 86 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 24 more ancestry groups with data from 15.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 77.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 5.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 21.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 77.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 13.4% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 14.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 68.3% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 75.9% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 25.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 14.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 13.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 13.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 76.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 93.5% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 88.1% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 75.9% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 21.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 45.7%(4,053)
Women 15+
Never married 41.7%(4,269)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 13.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 50.1% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 9.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 13.2% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 27.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 3.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 59.5% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 40.6% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 40.1%(530)
Gulf War (1990s) 35.7%(472)
Share of the 1,323 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Drill deeper
Places similar to Zion Head to head
Compare Zion to nearby cities ZION VS
Beach Park
Income $85,664 +36%
Home value $245,800 +34%
Population 14,114 −42%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ZION VS
Pleasant Prairie
Income $103,902 +65%
Home value $360,400 +96%
Population 21,798 −11%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ZION VS
Waukegan
Income $71,919 +14%
Home value $190,900 +4%
Population 87,940 +260%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
ZION VS
Gurnee
Income $119,628 +90%
Home value $344,300 +87%
Population 30,458 +25%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Zion, Illinois? Zion, Illinois has about 24,600 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Zion, Illinois? The typical household in Zion, Illinois earns about $63,104 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Zion, Illinois expensive? In Zion, Illinois, the median home is worth about $183,800, and the typical rent is about $1,186 a month.
How educated are people in Zion, Illinois? About 15.1% of adults age 25 and over in Zion, Illinois hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Zion, Illinois? About 16.0% of people in Zion, Illinois live below the federal poverty line.
Has Zion, Illinois grown since 1990? Yes, Zion, Illinois has grown since 1990. The population has added about 4,825 residents, a change of about 24 percent over that period.
Keep going
Explore from here 